Dahlia plant named ‘Baldamaxliv’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Baldamaxliv’, characterized by its double-type, medium red-purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Dahlia variabilis.

Variety denomination: ‘Baldamaxliv’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baldamaxliv’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, The Netherlands during August 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Dahlia cultivars that are freely flowering with large inflorescences, mid-season flower timing, and a vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

The new Dahlia cultivar is the result of open pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Dahlia variabilis breeding selection coded 11339, not patented, characterized by its double type, dark pink-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open pollination during July 2016 in a controlled environment in Hem, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2016 in Hem, The Netherlands and Andijk, The Netherlands has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Baldamaxliv’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, medium red-purple colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having medium red-purple colored inflorescence and increased growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Dahlia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is HYPNOTICA Lavender, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of HYPNOTICA Lavender in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have slightly lighter red-purple         colored inflorescences than plants of HYPNOTICA Lavender; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter         inflorescences than plants of HYPNOTICA Lavender.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Baldamaxliv’. The 13-week-old plants were grown in 6.5-inch pots for 9 weeks in a glass-covered greenhouse in Hem, The Netherlands. Plants were given one pinch before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Baldamaxliv’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Baldamaxliv’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in March 2021 under natural light conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The following descriptions and measurements describe 13-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Hem, The Netherlands in 6.5-inch pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch before transplant. Three Daminozide treatments were applied: one at 2,500 ppm two weeks after transplant, a second at 3,000 ppm four weeks after transplant and a third at 3,500 ppm six weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at an average of approximately 64° F. (18° C.) during the day and approximately 61° F. (16° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Baldamaxliv’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Dahlia variabilis breeding             selection coded 11339, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 25 to 32             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 9 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, semi-upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 32.5 cm. Height from soil level to top of             foliage: Approximately 29.5 cm. Width: Approximately 47.3             cm.         -   Branch.—Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 4. Strength: Moderately strong. Length of             lateral branch: Approximately 16.6 cm. Diameter of lateral             branch at central internode: Approximately 9.0 mm. Length of             central internode of lateral branch: Approximately 3.0 cm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146B, strongly tinted with 152A             towards the base. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 12. Type: Simple and compound. Quantity of             leaflets per compound leaf: Approximately 3 or 5. Fragrance:             None detected. Arrangement: Opposite. Aspect: Petiole mostly             perpendicular angle to stem with blade extending downward.             Shape of leaf and leaflet: Ovate to broadly elliptic. Margin             of leaf and leaflet: Widely serrate. Apex of leaf and             leaflet: Acute. Base of leaf and leaflet: Broadly attenuate             to rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate.         -   Simple leaf.—Length: Approximately 14.5 cm. Width:             Approximately 7.8 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface:             NN137A blended with 147A. Color of lower surface: 191A.             Length of petiole: Approximately 2.4 cm. Diameter of             petiole: Approximately 4.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces of petiole: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of             petiole: 146A with 143B. Color of lower surface of petiole:             146B.         -   Mature compound leaf.—Shape: Ovate in outline. Length of             mature compound leaf: Approximately 21.0 cm. Width of mature             compound leaf: Approximately 21.9 cm. Length of terminal             leaflet: Approximately 13.7 cm. Width of terminal leaflet:             Approximately 8.6 cm. Length of lateral leaflet:             Approximately 8.4 cm. Width of lateral leaflet:             Approximately 11.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely pubescent on venation. Color of upper surface:             NN137A blended with 147A, tinted with N186C at rachis             attachment. Color of lower surface: 191A. Length of petiole             of mature compound leaf: Approximately 5.0 cm. Diameter of             petiole of mature compound leaf: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces of petiole: Glabrous.             Color of upper surface of petiole: 146A with 143B and tinted             with 183A. Color of lower surface of petiole: 146B. Length             of rachis: Approximately 4.7 cm. Diameter of rachis:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of             rachis: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces of             rachis: 146B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Baldamaxliv’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from summer through autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 2 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Double, composite, consisting of             multiple rows or ray florets, and disc florets, persistent.             Aspect: Facing upward and slightly outward. Arrangement:             Terminal, arising from leaf axils on strong peduncles             positioned over the foliage. Disc and ray florets arranged             acropetally on a capitulum. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 4. Fragrance: None. Shape: Hemispherical to             near spherical when ray florets are fully open.             Inflorescence diameter: Approximately 11.9 cm. Inflorescence             depth: Approximately 6.2 cm. Disc diameter: Approximately             4.0 mm. Receptacle diameter at base: Approximately 1.3 cm.             Receptacle depth: Approximately 3.0 mm. Receptacle color:             146D.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 12.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146B, tinted with 200A to 200B.         -   Bud.—Rate of bud opening: Generally takes 2 weeks for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 18.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblate. Depth at first             color: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter at first color:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Outer             surface of the phyllaries 145A with base of 143C, and             immature ray florets of 183D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 180.             Arrangement: Imbricate, in multiple whorls. Aspect: Slightly             concave and slightly twisted. Shape: Obovate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Appearance: Matte.             Length: Approximately 1.5 cm to outermost of 5.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 5.0 mm to outermost of 2.4 cm. Texture of             upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent on main veins, ribbed. Color of upper surface when             first and fully open: Closest to N78B to N78D with base of             2D. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:             Closest N78B to N78D with base of 2D to lighter than 2D.             Color of upper surface before senescence: NN78D             transitioning to N59C at base. Color of lower surface before             senescence: N75A transitioning to N74B at base, central             streak of between N78B and N78C.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Aspect:             Erect. Shape: Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: 5 acute tips.             Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             0.75 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when fully open: 6C with             1B at base, translucent.         -   Outer phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 6. Aspect:             Slightly twisted and slightly reflexed. Shape: Narrowly             elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 cm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of             upper and lower surfaces: 137B.         -   Inner phyllaries.—Quantity: Approximately 1 per floret.             Shape: Linear, imbricate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute to obtuse. Base: Truncate. Length of outermost:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of outermost: Approximately             9.0 mm. Length of innermost: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width of             innermost: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 150B,             translucent with 143A at base of outermost.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: On disc florets. Stamen             quantity: 5 per floret. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 154D. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:             On disc florets, vestigial. Pistil length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Stigma shape: 2 branched. Stigma length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma width: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Stigma color: 15C. Style length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Style             color: 154D. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary             color: 154D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Dahlia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Baldamaxliv’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 